Tuning key



G. F. GREGG Aug. 31, 1948.

TUNING KEY Filed July 2, 1946 V FIG.

FIG. 3.

Patented Aug. 31, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUNING KEY George F. Gregg, Yakima, Wash.

Application July 2, 1946, Serial No. 681,087

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in tuning keys for musical stringed instruments.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive tuning key so shaped, arranged and functioning that it provides at all times a sturdy, dependable, and emcient device of this character when applied to the neck of the instrument.

Another object thereof is to provide a means of rapidly installing the strings of stringed musical instruments and to rapidly and easily bring such strings to the tension required to provide the desired pitch.

Another important object thereof is to render it impossible, by means of the present tuning key, to wind on the string the wrong way and by enclosing the gears it is assured that the accumulation of dust and other foreign matter in the working parts is avoided.

A still further object thereof is to provide a tuning key for particular use upon the solid heads of musical instruments as put out by manufacturers today.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel tuning key which is entirely enclosed within the solid head of the instrument so as to protect the working parts from foreign matter and render it easy to disassemble the parts when desired for repair or replacements.

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists in the combination, arrangement and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the respective views,

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section of my tuning key invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of my invention, taken at right angles to Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, which are merely illustrative of my invention the various parts thereof are disclosed. A gear case is provided in the shape of a box having the side walls I3, 14, end walls H, l2 and the closed top plate 2| operatively carried by the case or box. The hollow interior of the case is designated 15.

The box is generally designated Hi. There is a shaft [6 carrying a hand thumb head [1. This shaft 16 extends into the interior I of the case or box i Q. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the shaft, between its ends, as at l8 projects into side wall [3 of the case, while its innermost end it? projects through side wall I4 thereof. In this manner this shaft I5 is journalled in the case. Shaft 16 is formed with a worm, the convolutions of which are designated 20. The worm extends across the effective width of the case or box, in such a way that one end of the worm 2! abuts side wall I3 of the case while the other end 22 abuts the side wall M. In this way the worm snugly is enclosed rotatably by the case.

The worm meshes with a worm wheel or gear 23 carried at the lower end of a vertical shaft 25. This worm gear is held in position, made fast upon the shaft end by aid of a securing screw '24 tapped into the end of the shaft 25. The shaft 25 rotatably projects through the block 22 which rests upon the top plate 2| of the box or case. The shaft 25 has a longitudinal bore in which extends the lower portion 26 of a post or rod or elongated pin made of a length longer than the shaft 25. The post 26 is held rigidly in the shaft 25 so as to be firmly anchored therein by means of a set screw 28 tapped through the block 22 into shaft 25 in a manher to bind the post 26 in the shaft 25.

There is another shaft 29, of the same diameter as shaft 25. It is designated 29 and it has an internal elongated bore 30 into which the other portion or end, 2", of the rod or post slidably extends telescopically. The confronting ends of both shafts 25 and 29 are formed with jagged clutch surfaces in the form of a circular series of serrations 3! on the lower end of shaft 29 and a circular series of serrations on the outer end of shaft 25.

The shaft 29 is formed with a diametrical hole 38. It is formed in back of this hole with an annular groove or seat 35 into which snaps a resilient split ring 34 which acts as a stop for a collar. This collar 35 embraces the shaft 29 slidably and it is engaged by the split ring 34 as a stop member therefor. At the outer end of the shaft 29 is a flanged screw. The screw 40 thereof is tapped coaxially into the outer end of the shaft 29, while the integral flange 39 on this screw engages against the outermost end of the shaft 29 abuttingly when the screw is driven home into the shaft. The musical instrument string is inserted in hole 38 as is understood by those skilled in the art.

In operation, when the shaft 29 is gently pushed in and turned, the slack is immediately taken out of the string. This is done by taking hold of the thumb piece ll, turning shaft l6 and causing the lower vertical shaft 25 to turn; depressing of the upper shaft 29 engages its clutch teeth or serrations 2! with the clutch teeth 32 on the lower shaft, so now both shafts are engaged for unitary rotation. Rotation of shaft 25 thus effects rotation of the shaft 29. In this way the string is put under tension by a slight winding thereof on shaft 29. The worm convolutions 29 lock the shafts 25 and 29 in adjusted relation with respect to the tensioned string.

The tuning key is attached to the neck of the musical stringed instrument where now tuning keys are located. Because of the clutch serrations formed separately upon both shaft sections 25 and 29, the upper vertical shaft section 29 is free to turn in a clockwise direction. Pressure applied to turn this shaft in a clockwise direction causes the serrations on the lower portion of upper shaft 29 to engage the serrations on the lower shaft and so look the shafts securely.

The collar 35, when engaging the neck of the instrument-properly keeps shaft 29 firmly in place as it holds against movement the shaft 29 by engagement of this shaft with the stop ring 3%. The shaft 29 can slide relatively to and in this collar when the latter is in fixed position about oneeighth of an inch and then snap ring 3% engages-the collar.

It will thus beseen that the present tuning key fits into :holes placed in the head of the stringed instrument. It provides for read and rapid tuning of string installations, the speed being limited only by the speed of the worm gearing. This worm gearing allows for a fine adjustment of the sectional shaft. Not only is a fine adjustment made possible ultimately by the worm gearing'thereof, but a rapid course initial adjustment is made possible by allowing the shaft 29 to turncfreely ofthe worm gear. In this way strings may always be installed quickly and accurately andhave long life. As'the gearing is encased or enclosed at all times it is significant to note that the device is constantly kept free from dust and dirt and in no wise does the device change the outsideappearancerof the instrument.

insaid bore and extending axially outwardly of said-free end, a sleeve slidable and rotatable on said rod, said sleeve including an inner end formed to provide ratchet clutch teeth complementary tosaidfirst teeth and engageable therewith, said sleeve including an outer end formed to providea- Winding knob, said sleeve being formed with a transverse aperture for connecting an instrument string thereto, said sleeve being slidable on said-rod in one direction to disengage said te th and permit a coarse tightening of said stri upon rotationof said sleeve by said knob, and a threaded. connection between said knob and sleeve to compel unidirectional manual rotation of said sleeveztocoarsel tighten said string.

GEORGE F. GREGG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Skeyen Aug. 5, Gosse July 2, Simon Jan. 12, Anagnost Sept. 19, Smith June 17., Kluson Oct. 11,

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